Kollam (Kerala) | MP N K Premachandran on Monday termed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for self-imposed restrictions on fuel usage as "unfortunate" and blamed the Centre for not taking timely action despite the oil crisis persisting for several months.

Speaking to reporters here, Revolutionary Socialist Party leader and UDF ally Premachandran said the war in West Asia had started months ago, but the central government did not take the issue seriously or hold discussions on the possibility of a fuel crisis.

"Instead of announcing any package after deliberations on the fuel crisis, treating the matter casually and making certain remarks at meetings is unfortunate. What steps has the central government taken to address the fuel crisis despite the war having started several months ago?" he asked.

He said the burden of fuel price rise should be borne by the government.

"Instead of putting the burden of the fuel crisis on the public, the central government should take responsibility," he said.

Premachandran also said asking people to go into a partial lockdown was not justifiable.

Prime Minister Modi, while addressing a rally organised by the Telangana BJP in Hyderabad on Sunday, suggested reducing petrol and diesel consumption, using metro rail services in cities, carpooling, increasing the use of electric vehicles (EVs), utilising railway services for parcel movement and working from home to conserve foreign exchange amid the crisis in West Asia.

Stressing the need to save foreign exchange due to the crisis, Modi also called for postponing the purchase of gold and foreign travel for one year.